BETWEEN THE FIRST LADY DAME JONATHAN & THE "UMBLELA"...MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
In recent times, I have followed closely media reports on the First Lady and I am wont to believe that she has become immune to all the pot shots aimed at her. I guess for her it has become a classic case of “..sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me..”. Her sheer doggedness in pursuing (in my opinion) her main agenda of doing her utmost to ensure her husband returns Nigeria to the motherland is unprecedented. Consistently berated and hounded for various reasons ranging from her
use of the English language to her dress sense Dame P still trudges on. I guess it’s the indomitable okrika spirit in her evident in my friend Jemima who hails from that axis. Though not the No. 1 fan of the first family, my friends OSF, PID and ITT beat me to it, I can safely say the likelihood that they will remain at the Rock for the next four years is pretty much high.
In all honesty therefore, I can’t understand the uproar following this faux pas in pronunciation of the word umbrella in one of her recent speeches at a rally. I believe this recent hazing of the First Lady is one shot too
many...Like most things Nigerian, the “Scholars” (read: Naysayers) have failed to accept the significance and substance of her message, but rather will spend time dwelling on the mundane.
In all the mirth that has followed, what most have failed to see is her grasp of political savvy in highlighting the importance of a thorough knowledge of the PDP political symbol ahead of the April polls.
So what if she said “umblela”, as long as the import is not lost on the many who come election day will only be able to identify the parties by the symbols. Because of the general lack of awareness on party issues, for many voters Dame Jonathan should be applauded for her efforts rather than vilified. Call her what you like but Dame Patience clearly shows that she understands the nitty-gritty of what grassroots mobilization/electioneering campaign is all about. Come April she knows that it is only the Umbrella that should count.
After all the grammar of PDP manifesto, she knows that what matters on that day is where the voters will thumb print. God forbid that after all the huge sums of money spent on the campaign, human capital and travel mileage thumb prints appear beside the dreaded broom of the ACN, the Rooster of APGA or the scepter of the CPC.
This is a woman, who rather than sit at home waiting for her husband to bring home the bacon come April, is traversing the length and breadth of the Nation determined to do her bit to support her husband. Through all of this, she has shown that she understands what this election means to her husband following all the aggro leading up to his victory at the primaries. Watching them together at rallies, as she sits beside him tilting her head to whisper something in his ear and both of them breaking into simultaneous laughter, I get a sense of what the first Lady is all about;
SHE IS A WOMAN WHO AT GREAT COST TO HER IMAGE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SEE HER MAN BECOME WHAT SHE BELIEVES HE IS DESTINED TO BE…AND I WONDER WHICH WOMAN OUT THERE WOULD NOT SHOW SUCH DOGGEDNESS IN SUPPORT OF HER MAN IF THE NEED ARISES.
many...Like most things Nigerian, the “Scholars” (read: Naysayers) have failed to accept the significance and substance of her message, but rather will spend time dwelling on the mundane.
In all the mirth that has followed, what most have failed to see is her grasp of political savvy in highlighting the importance of a thorough knowledge of the PDP political symbol ahead of the April polls.
So what if she said “umblela”, as long as the import is not lost on the many who come election day will only be able to identify the parties by the symbols. Because of the general lack of awareness on party issues, for many voters Dame Jonathan should be applauded for her efforts rather than vilified. Call her what you like but Dame Patience clearly shows that she understands the nitty-gritty of what grassroots mobilization/electioneering campaign is all about. Come April she knows that it is only the Umbrella that should count.
After all the grammar of PDP manifesto, she knows that what matters on that day is where the voters will thumb print. God forbid that after all the huge sums of money spent on the campaign, human capital and travel mileage thumb prints appear beside the dreaded broom of the ACN, the Rooster of APGA or the scepter of the CPC.
This is a woman, who rather than sit at home waiting for her husband to bring home the bacon come April, is traversing the length and breadth of the Nation determined to do her bit to support her husband. Through all of this, she has shown that she understands what this election means to her husband following all the aggro leading up to his victory at the primaries. Watching them together at rallies, as she sits beside him tilting her head to whisper something in his ear and both of them breaking into simultaneous laughter, I get a sense of what the first Lady is all about;
SHE IS A WOMAN WHO AT GREAT COST TO HER IMAGE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SEE HER MAN BECOME WHAT SHE BELIEVES HE IS DESTINED TO BE…AND I WONDER WHICH WOMAN OUT THERE WOULD NOT SHOW SUCH DOGGEDNESS IN SUPPORT OF HER MAN IF THE NEED ARISES.
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